Fórsa has served notice of industrial action in local authorities, due to begin on Monday 11th September.

Following the abject failure of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to engage meaningfully with the union on the establishment of a job evaluation scheme for workers in local authorities, 85% of Fórsa members voted in favour of industrial action. Notice of the industrial action was served to local authority employers last Friday 1st September.

The industrial action will consist of an indefinite ban on non-statutory political representations from TDs, senators and councillors from that date. This means that local government workers will not respond to routine queries and requests for information from politicians. Fórsa said it will announce further action - up to and including strike action - in due course.

We have prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document for members to answer any questions you might have on the industrial action.

Fórsa has also written to local councillors, TDs, senators and MEPs about the fresh industrial action due to commence in local authorities next week.

The union said the industrial action had essentially been forced by the LGMA’s “strident” position in resisting the union’s claim for a job evaluation scheme. Job evaluation assesses if a job’s grade is properly matched to its duties and responsibilities.

Fórsa national secretary Richy Carrothers said: “Management representatives utterly failed to engage meaningfully in resolving this dispute, despite its commitment to do so in a joint referral to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

“There was no meaningful or constructive engagement from the employer side at conciliation hearings in July. Consequently, negotiations broke down. The LGMA has failed the process, and local authority workers, and has betrayed the good faith of the joint referral to the WRC.

“However, there is absolute determination among Fórsa’s membership to secure an appropriate job evaluation scheme in local government, and the action due to commence next week will illustrate that determination.

“Any attempts to circumvent or undermine the industrial action, or any attempts to intimidate or threaten Fórsa members engaging in this legitimate action, will likely lead to an immediate escalation of the dispute,” he said.

Fórsa represents more than 12,000 local government and services workers including clerical, administrative, management, technical and professional staff. You can also show your support by asking your colleagues who aren’t members to join the union.

Download and distribute this poster to help grow Forsa’s membership in local authorities.